hiller



. (No Model.)

L. O. HILLEB; COMBINED BACK FASTENER AND SUPPORTIPOR MIRROR 0R PICTURE FRAMES.

No. 419,605. Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

N. PETERS. PholD-Uthognphor, Wilhinghm D,C.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS C. HILLER, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERIDEN SILVER PLATE COMP ANY, or sAnn PLACE.

COMBINED BACK FASTENER AND SUPPORT FOR MIRROR OR PICTURE FRAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed May 15, 1889 To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS C. I'IILLER, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Back Fast eners and Supports for Mirror or Picture Frames; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said inx ention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in picture or mirror frames of the kind known as easels, said frames being adapted to stand on a table, mantel, or other desirable place by reason of the legs, which are applied to the rear of the frame; and the object of my invention is to produce a frame with a fastener, which serves the double purpose of holding a mirror or picture in the frame and of supporting the frame in an upright or nearly upright position.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame and the fastener and support removed from each other and viewed from the rear. Fig.2 is aperspective View of the same parts united and forming an easel-frame. Fig. 3 is a rear view of a complete easel-frame, illustrating an oval form.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

A indicates a frame having an opening of rectangular, oval, or other desired shape, and around this opening are two inwardly-projecting flanges a and a. The flange a-the one which is flush, or nearly so, with the face of the frame-is to receive against it the edges of the mirror, picture, or sheet of glass when the latter is used in front of a picture. The flange a and a portion of the frame which carries it is cut away to form a recess a for a purpose presently to be explained. The space across the frame between the inner edges of the flange a is of coursegreater than that between the inner edges of the flange a,

Patent No. 419,605, dated January 14, 1890,

. Serial No. 310,856- (No model.)

so that the glass or mirror, picture, and backing-plate B can be inserted in the space with edges resting against flange a, by which areceptacle is formed.

The fastener and support 0 consists of a piece of spring-wire having a lug c at its center which fits the recess a On each side of the lug c the wire is bent upward, as at c, then inward, as at 0 and then downward and backward, as at 0 terminating in feet 0 the portions forming legs to support the frame when the parts are put together.

To apply this fastener and support in place I proceed as follows: The mirror, glass, or picture is placed in the frame, resting on the flange a. The backing-plate B is placed in the frame behind the mirror or picture and held in place by the fastener C. Said fastener is applied to its place by grasping and forcing together the upper portions of the legs 0 This contracts the oval portion of the fast-en er. The lug c is slipped into the recess a and the wire on each side of the lug fits behind the flange a on each side of the recess. The entire oval of the wire is pressed against the backing-plate and then allowed to expand, the result of which is the portions 0 and c of the wire are held in the groove under flange a.

It is not necessary that the flange a should be cut away at the bottom, as shown. It will be sufficient if a lug or pin on the bottom of the oval of the wire enters a recess in the groove behind flange a. The object of the lug and recess is to center the fastener and support, so that when it is in place the legs 0 will be held with their feet in the same plane as the bottom of the frame. In other words, the lug and recess prevent any twisting or turning around of the fastener when in position.

Portions of the flange a which do not reoeive behind them anyportion of the wire fastener C may be omitted; but I prefer the construction as shown.

The backing-plate B may be omitted; but I prefer to use it.

In use the two flanges serve as stops, one for the mirror, glass, or picture to rest against, the other to hold the fastener in place.

The fastener may be constructed without the legs, but with the inwardly-bent portions 0 to serve as handles for compressing the oval of the spring when removing the fastener from or inserting it into the receptacle.

The legs may be jointed to the portions or to the sides of the frame or to the backingplate B.

Havin g now described my invention. what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In combination with a frame having a suitable receptacle for a mirror or picture and stops at the rear of said receptacle, a springbaek fastener fitted to the inside of the recepl taele and held by said stops, said fastener having handles for compressing the spring, substan tially as described. 

